Russian CM-2/SM-2 target .22 review- long with pictures.

In another thread discussing Russian .22 rifles (http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=40802) there were some requests for more information on the Izhmash CM-2 (also known as the SM-2) target rifle.

So here we go.

I was able to get the rifle special ordered from the Izhmash (http://www.izhmash.ru/eng/product/weapon.shtml) factory to their US distributor
Kalashnikov USA (http://kusa.guns.ru/)Cost was $549.00 plus taxes and other fees, in California about a year ago. I had read about it one of the gun rags and I’m a sucker for unique .22 rifles.

The rifle arrived with no problems in about two weeks. It was shipped in a plastic hard case. Two different slings are also shipped with the rifle; a standard canvas type carrying sling and a leather shooting sling for use with a shooting jacket. It also came with their version of a coated cleaning rod (a one piece deal with what looks like a thin fabric lacquered to the rod.), bore brush and jag.

http://www.swedcom.com/test_images/CM-2/rifle_accessories.jpg

The rifles rear sight assembly is very much like the Anschutz #6834. It was supplied with five different sized rear aperture disks and about eight different sized inserts for the globe type front sight. The rear sight is removable and can be moved forward and rearward on the integral receiver rail. The rear sight is secured by two thumbscrews and locks down solid. The front sight is not removable and is fixed to the barrel with a band. The receiver is not drilled or tapped for optics.

http://www.swedcom.com/test_images/CM-2/rear_sight_closeup.jpg

Rifle weight without sling is about 11 lbs. Barrel length is 26 ¾ inches, and appears to be spiral hammer forged. It is deeply counter bored at the muzzle to protect the crown. The barrel looks like it’s either press fir or threaded into the receiver as when I removed the action from the stock to inspect the trigger mechanism, I saw no way to remove the barrel from the receiver. This is a single shot rifle with a solid one-piece receiver that is machined like a rasp file on its flat bottom to grip the wood of the stock. The stock is, I believe, beech wood. It is adjustable for length-of-pull via spacers, and is also adjustable for cant. Earlier I had stated that it had an adjustable cheek-piece, which was incorrect for this model. The stock features had stippling on the pistol grip and forend. The barrel is fully floated all the way to the receiver, which is secured with two screws through the one piece trigger guard and floor plate.

http://www.swedcom.com/test_images/CM-2/front_sight_closeup.jpg

http://www.swedcom.com/test_images/CM-2/muzzle_closeup.jpg

The trigger is adjustable for weight of pull and overtravel, without removing the action from the stock. I currently have the trigger weight at about 14 oz. The rifle does not have a manual safety. The trigger is pretty crisp at break but a little mushy on take-up.

http://www.swedcom.com/test_images/CM-2/adj_trigger_closeup.jpg

There is an accessory rail in the forend that will accept standard rail accessories; a quick-adjustable sling swivel is supplied.

http://www.swedcom.com/test_images/CM-2/forend_rail_closeup.jpg

Range results have been pretty darn good with a variety of rimfire ammunition; coincidently the best I’ve done is with Russian Wolf Gold Match .22. I don’t have any pictures of group results but groups off-hand at 25 yards have been about six inches for 10 rounds. Off bench I’ve gotten down to about 1” at 50 yards. Which I think is pretty darn good with iron sights.

No complaints at all for the rifle, though one minor point is that the sculpting for the pistol grip is a little off for my hand so in the future I may take a file to it and re-fit it for my hand.

Point of trivia. When I picked up the rifle it had a small bright yellow plastic hang-tag on the trigger guard that was printed with “SHOT show 2003”. Ok, I thought, so this was a display rifle at the show. I inspected the rifle when it came in and there were no flaws anywhere that I could see (no pitting on the breech face that indicated a lot of dry firing). So I signed off on it.

When I got the rifle home and stripped the bolt out for cleaning I noticed something a little odd.

No firing pin. No firing pin? Nope. I’ve pointed out the missing piece in the picture below. Kalashnikov USA finally shipped me out a whole spare bolt head with firing pin so I was able to put things right after a little work. But when I inspected the rifle initially, it never occurred to me to check to see if the firing pin was in place. It’s something I’ve never even thought about.

http://www.swedcom.com/test_images/CM-2/bolt_closeup.jpg

I’ve since learned that all the firearms and ammunition at the SHOT show are disabled, and apparently the importer forgot to ‘re-able’ this particular rifle. Live and learn.

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C.R.Sam

September 21, 2003, 12:49 AM

Good lighting.
GREAT PICS.
Great report.

Firing pin saga a hoot.

Thank you QBG

Lookin at their site last night after you posted it got me interested.
Now you got me Highly interested.

Do you know if the reticules/discs are interchangeable with Anschutz ?

Sam

QuarterBoreGunner

September 21, 2003, 01:19 AM

C.R.Sam- I don't know about compatibility with Anschutz inserts, but the Lyman inserts I have seem to work just fine.

The supplied inserts are all of the vertical post variety; I prefer the inset circle type, so I switched out for a Lyman when I first got the rifle.

I'lll see if the Anschutz inserts I have for my M64 will fit tomorrow and post the results.

I'll also check on compatibility of the rear disc; for my Anschutz sights, and my Lymans. I have a couple of Merit variable aperture discs around also- I'll try them too.

C.R.Sam

September 21, 2003, 02:45 AM

Would 'preciate that sir.

Sam

Tman

September 21, 2003, 07:50 AM

QBG:
Thanks for the excellent range report. Beautiful pictures. Is the rear sight mounted on a rail? I think I might have to call up K-USA and pick up one of these beauties.

BTW, I read a while back about someone trying for find a firing pin for his IZH rifle (from the shot show) on another forum (?). That wasn't you by any chance, was it :scrutiny: If it was, what is your opinion of customer service?

C.R.Sam

September 22, 2003, 04:00 PM

QBG....help.
Phone # on KUSA site not good.
561-337-3398 and 772-337-3398 both bad.
Do you have a different one ?
Or an email addy for them ?

Thanx;
Sam

gun-fucious

September 22, 2003, 04:15 PM

i ordered a scope from K-usa in St Lucie Fl awhile back

here is the phone numbers from the catalog
800-784-5677
www.weapons-russian.com

saiga@gate.net

weapons@weapons-russian.com

gun-fucious

September 22, 2003, 04:19 PM

K-USA midwest also has CM-2s:
http://kusa.guns.ru/cgi-bin/shop/shop.cgi?database=weapons&action=view_product&productID=5&category=4

C.R.Sam

September 22, 2003, 04:35 PM

Midwest is the one with the bad number on website.
I'll try The Florida one...

Thanks Gun Fucious

Sam

C.R.Sam

September 22, 2003, 08:43 PM

Florida is also a disconnect.

Sigh.

Sam

QuarterBoreGunner

September 26, 2003, 02:29 PM

Hi guys- apologies for the delay in replying; I've been out all week nursing the wife through some surgery (maxillo-facial- yipes! shoot me, run me over or blow me up, just don't mess with my teeth!)

Anyway-

C.R.Sam; the front apertures ARE interchangable with Anschutz inserts. The rear aperture disc is NOT interchangable with either the Lyman or Merit discs; the thread pitch and shank size are completely different.

Tman- yes the rear sight is mounted on a integral rail on the top of the reciever; I miked it out to 11mm in width. I posted the story of "Mystery of the Missing Firing Pin" on .22World (http://22world.outland.net/) and on calguns.net (http://www.calguns.net/) so it was probably me ;) .

Double rats; I tried to link to the original post on calguns.net but their site is acting flakey.

Customer service was... pretty much non-existent. It took literally dozens of phone calls and messages left to get a response to my original inquiry into the rifle, but when I did get through they shipped it out pretty quick. Getting some help on the missing firing pin was almost impossible; unanswered phone calls and non-returned messages. It took me another dozen or so set of phone calls to get through to someone that could set me up with the parts I needed.

Sorry guys, but all the contact info I have is from the website; I don't have any others. I really like the rifle but am praying that I don't need any other parts from them as it's looking like they may be out of business.

If I find anything out I'll post a follow-up.

Tman

September 26, 2003, 08:15 PM

QBG:
Thank you for the info. I'm e-mailing the Florida e-mail address and hoping it works. Hope your wife is recovering well from her surgery.:)

gun-fucious

September 26, 2003, 10:48 PM

it seems like the K-USA empire is a tad shakey

maybe EAA can get in the CM-2 rifles

they are selling Izhmash products

http://www.eaacorp.com/firearms/rifles/targetrifles/index.shtml

burlesonbill

May 25, 2006, 12:43 PM

I highly recommend this dealer:

http://www.mtguns.com/

The owner, Mac Tilton, has been supporting the US shooting teams and dealing in foreign smallbore target rifles for years. I've personally bought a beautiful Finnish Lion that I passed-on to a friend, a Russian MU-12 ISU gun with full sight set in VG condition with an outstanding double set trigger that I don't plan on selling and a BRNO #3 in near mint condition. Right now Mac has the CM-2's listed on his site, adult-sized, used, for $350 to $475 and sells accessories for them. Call him or send him an e-mail for current used gun availability. Over the last couple of years that I've been dealing with him and talking to him, Mac has had Suhl 150's, old Vostok CM-2's (NOT the commercial model and a great basis for an inexpensive bench gun), Finnish Lions, MU-12's, BRNO's and even some really oddball eastern Euro copies of Annie's. His prices are fair, his shipping is flat rate, and he ships the guns in new Doskocil hard cases. On many of his guns he can offer you a choice of Good condition (may be drilled and tapped and missing sights or have a cracked or repaired stock) to VG (all accessories included) to Excellent (like new guns with all accessories, paperwork, etc.)

I put him right up there with Thad Scott as a resource, the difference being that Mac ONLY handles target rifles. He travels eastern Europe and buys huge cases of these things that are a mixed bag between like new and parts guns. Then he and his shop manager go through them and sort and grade them. Some of his guns even qualify as C&R and he does respect C&R licenses without hassle, unlike some dealers! He's in Zephyr Cove, Nevada. A friend from CA said he went in there one time and it was like entering Alladin's Cave for target rifles! He can also provide some parts and sight sets for your older eastern guns.

Bill

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